What’s Kraken! In this video I’m giving my first impressions on the new Audeze LCD S20 (closed-back planar) that comes in at $500, and I’m being straight with you: it didn’t jive with me, so I’m sending it back to Audio46. Big thanks to Audio46 for loaning it out so I could get my thoughts out there—because even if it’s not for me, it might be exactly what you’re looking for. I go over what you get in the box (pretty minimal: headphone, braided 6.3mm cable with a single 3.5mm cup connection, plus a 6.3-to-3.5 adapter), the build (super sturdy magnesium/aluminum/steel, 550g, magnetic pads, strong isolation), and comfort (not overly clampy on my head, easy fit thanks to tilt/swivel and the Maxwell-style suspension strap). Sound-wise, I hear solid bass extension but not much extra weight, a mostly flat midrange, and a noticeable 2–3k-ish energy that made my own vocals sound “off” while editing. It’s not fatiguing, but it’s also not lively or exciting—especially for gaming—so I see this as more of a studio/reference tool that might benefit from EQ depending on your preferences.